12/3/2008 - Aston Villa vs Middlesbrough

Martin O'Neill will be looking for his team to build on their recent success on the pitch to a European spot for next season, whether it be the Champions League or UEFA Cup, and the final part of their season starts today from this live online commentary English Premier League match against Middlesbrough. Given their form over the last few games where they pushed Arsenal and Liverpool to their breaking point, Villa are in a strong position except for the fact that Liverpool seems to have rediscovered their early season form and Everton continues to chug along with great results all round. O'Neill acknowledged the fact that despite what they have done this season, it will all come to nought if Villa cannot sustain the momentum in their last 10 games, and that with the results that have unfolded recently in the FA Cup, they are fighting for the sole UEFA Cup spot available in the English Premier League, which can fall in the hands of any team from a group of five, including Liverpool, Everton, Portsmouth and Manchester City. The fourth Champions League slot is also a possibility but unless both Liverpool and Everton slip up, it is unlikely Aston Villa would have a good chance.

Middlesbrough aims to overcome their disappointment of being knocked out of the FA Cup by minnows Cardiff City with a positive response against Aston Villa in this live online commentary match in the English Premier League. Gareth Southgate was incensed with his team's performance and demanded a reaction, with the booing from home fans an obvious hurting case in point. Southgate as a player has always had high standards for himself and he would expect at least the same professional attitude from his players. While Boro had their share of chances against Cardiff, they seemed to lack desire and urgency on the day and the shock of conceding two early goals obviously rattled the team and set the tone for the rest of the match. With the money paid out for players like Robert Huth and Alfonso Alves, Southgate would expect more from the team and pride has been a facet of his game throughout his career. Boro will also be hoping Alfonso starts repaying the money they spent on his transfer fee and what better match to start than this live online commentary match against Aston Villa in the EPL.